Unshown Moments from S18 Hostage

A/N: From what I can tell, James Harvey actually ended his governorship in 1872. I know GS was nominally set in 1873 but the man who played the governor in this episode actually looked a lot like Governor Harvey. So James Harvey it is. There is actual dialogue on this copied directly from the episode. I felt it needed to be included. Also, this is for Themarshalswoman09.

Governor James Harvey woke with a start when he heard a heavy pounding on the front door of the house. Sitting up, he scrubbed his face in confusion for a moment, trying to ascertain the reason for the noise.

"James." His wife woke with a start.

"Go back to sleep." He told her. "I'll see what's going on."

Quickly putting on a pair of slippers, he left the bedroom and headed to the staircase His butler, George had beaten him to it and was already descending the stairs, heading to the front door. Harvey started to go back to his room until the voice of the man at the front door.

"I want to see the Governor and I want to see him now." Matt demanded.

"I'm sorry, but that's impossible." George stated unequivocally. "Perhaps if you came back…"

"I said I want to see him now." Matt began pushing his way past the butler.

"George, it's okay." Harvey called down when he saw George losing the battle to keep Matt Dillon out. "Let him in and show him to my study."

Quickly returning to his bedroom, he grabbed his robe, reassured his wife that everything was okay and hurriedly left the bedroom to walk down to his study. The Marshal was pensively waiting inside as he entered, hat in hand.

"Matt?" He tentatively greeted him. "What's going? Why are you here this time of night."

"I'm here about Virgil Bonner." Matt answered, forcing himself to stay calm, knowing Harvey was his best shot at getting Kitty free.

"Bonner?" Harvey was afraid to ask but knew he had to. "What about him?"

"Governor, I want a stay of execution." Matt wasted no time. He had no time to waste if he stood any chance of saving Kitty.

Harvey couldn't believe his ears. "You're not serious." He turned away, unable to believe his own ears.

"I'm dead serious." Matt's face showed the truth of that.

"But why in the name of all that's holy for him? And on what grounds?"

"While I was on my way to Hays, the Dog Soldiers hit Dodge. Now they shot up my deputies and kidnapped a woman. They're holding her to trade for his life." Matt's voice got louder and gruffer as he spoke.

"That's terrible. Dreadful thing." Harvey turned away again and paced over to his desk, picking up a pipe. He had no intentions of smoking it but it calmed him to have something in his hand.

"I guarantee they'll kill her if he hangs." Matt couldn't even perceive of the thought and yet he forced himself to say the words.

Harvey had a sinking feeling. "Matt, this woman…. Is it Miss Russell?" He turned and looked at Matt, knowing it was. Dillon would risk his life for any citizen. But he'd do even more for her.

"It wouldn't matter." Matt snapped. "She's a woman and her life is on the line."

"But you know the law." Harvey knew he couldn't help but he hoped he could make Matt understand. Pacing again, forgotten pipe in hand, he searched for the right words to make Matt understand. "Matt, you know my position. I can grant a stay, maybe, if there's good cause, if the verdict is in doubt, if the evidence has been tampered with or incomplete. Yes, by all means. But, Virgil Bonner?! Even if I were to commit political suicide and issue a stay, it wouldn't hold. The legislature would overturn me and they'd be right."

Harvey regretfully shook his head. "You set a precedent like this and every desperado in Kansas will be trying the same thing. Dammit, Matt, I want to help you. You know I do. But I can't." Again, he turned back to his desk, unable to look Matt Dillon in the face, knowing what he'd just done to the woman Matt loved.

Matt Dillon was a formidable lawman. Few could best him in any given circumstance but this. This could be the very thing that undid the venerable Marshal.

Without a word, Matt turned and left, closing the door behind him, knowing he'd not find the help he needed there.

"Sir?" George was at the door. "The Marshal…"

"I know, George." Harvey sighed, waving him away. "Make sure the front door is locked and then go to bed."

"And you, Sir?" George was a loyal and astute man. He knew this was an upsetting visit for some reason.

"I'm going back to bed as well." Harvey answered. "Now go on." George turned and left, leaving the door of the study open. Harvey stood for several long moments staring at the floor. He knew what he'd told Matt was correct but he also knew that was no comfort to a man who was about to lose the love of his life.

"James?" His wife questioned as he re-entered the bedroom. "Is everything alright? What's going on?"

Harvey looked over at the woman that he loved. 'How would I feel, if I was facing the same thing as Dillon?' He wondered. "Go to sleep, sweetheart." He told her wearily as he pulled off his robe and got back into bed. He couldn't tell her that everything was fine, because it wasn't. He felt in his heart that tonight he'd sentenced an innocent woman to die and there was nothing he could do about it.

Once settled back into bed, he drew his drowsy wife into his arms, hugging her tightly as he looked up and said a prayer that somehow God would spare the woman he couldn't.

END